OVERVIEW

The cement industry

Cement contributes about 8% of global annual emissions and is a critical material we need to build infrastructure including roads, hospitals, and even wind turbines.

Intrinsic emissions from cement production primarily result from the breakdown of limestone into clinker and the subsequent heating of clinker to produce cement. Calcination process emits 60% of total production emissions, with 40% coming directly
from burning fossil fuels.

Industry will require GW scale of renewables to meet 2050 targets, with emissions needing to fall by at least 16% by 2030.

TECHNOLOGY IN INDUSTRY

A study showed how to decarbonise Mannok Cement operations by 18%

A combined team of CATAGEN and Mannok engineers have identified several pathways to help decarbonise cement production at Mannok’s Cement Plant in Ballyconnell through a techno-economic study which produces one million tonnes of cement annually.

• The study has determined that the use of the HGEN technology could reduce annual carbon emissions by 7 percent.

• Biohydrogen generation from waste biomass can generate larger volumes of hydrogen with less renewable energy required compared to electrolytic hydrogen generation. The use of BIOHGEN technology could reduce the carbon intensity of cement produced at this site by a further 18 percent by reducing fossil fuel use.